AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Her single word is my salvation. The light rushes toward me, and I finally break through the heavy surface. I open my eyes, and her beautiful face is all I see.
Mia piccola rosa, my Rose. Words I didn’t get to say before, but need to say now.
“I loved you first.”
Everyone swings their heads toward me simultaneously with the same shocked expressions. And then Rose crumples. She sobs uncontrollably and crawls farther up the bed. The moment she brushes the bandage on my thigh, a sudden pain flares up, making me hiss, which causes her to climb off the bed quickly. No. I don’t like that. Not one bit. I try to reach out to stop her, but my arms feel incredibly heavy.
“Don’t go,” I croak out, my throat dry and scratchy.
After a moment of brief hesitation, Rose carefully perches back beside me on the bed. I manage to flip my hand, palm side up, on the bed for her. She immediately slips her hand in mine and squeezes it gently. I try to return the favor, but every movement feels weighed down, like gravity pushes against me, making it harder than normal to do even that simple thing.
“How long?” I clear my throat and accept a sip of water Rose holds out for me before continuing. “How long have I been out?”
“A week.”
The events of the night at the church rush forward like a movie reel sped up. “Liam?”
Rose looks over her shoulder as Raphael approaches with the wiggling baby in his arms.
“Hello, brother.” His eyes are glassy as he looks at me.
“Raphael.”
Rose takes Liam from Raphael and perches him up on her lap close enough that I can see and touch him. I reach out my fingers, and Liam immediately latches on to one.
“I’m going to go get the doctor and let him know you’re awake.” Raphael wipes his eyes before he walks to the door, giving me one last look before he leaves.
Dad and Mom approach next, and I’m happy to see them both.
“Michael!” Mom sobs, her face a mess as she cries against my shoulder. “I’m so happy you’re okay.”
Dad squeezes my hand. “Glad to see you awake.”
“Glad to be awake,” I tell him. “What happened at the church?”
“When Patrick turned his gun on Rose, Connor arrived at that moment and put him down.” Dante’s eyes flick to Rose, and I follow.
Rose bows her head, kissing Liam’s crown, and I shift to lace our fingers together as a sign of silent support. I’m sure she’s feeling some level of guilt over her father’s actions and maybe his death, but Patrick is responsible for his own actions. None of what happened was her fault, and I need her to know that. I need to tell her that I’m sorry for everything I said on the beach. That when I said I loved her, I meant it. I love every single inch of her. The good, the bad, the ugly. The black, the white, and the gray.
Another memory flashes across my mind, causing me to jolt upright. The sudden movement sends a sharp pain shooting through my body, preventing me from attempting any further.Hands reach for me as if to stop me, but it’s unnecessary. I collapse back on the bed, and my eyes travel to Rose’sside.
“You were stabbed.”
“Yes.”
“Let me see.”
“Michael—”
“Rose.” I interrupt and leave no room for argument. I may be laid up in bed, but I’m still me. “Let. Me. See.”
She rolls her eyes with a heavy sigh. If I wasn’t laid up in bed and she wasn’t hurt, I'd have her over this bed right now, punishing her for that little act of sarcastic rebellion. Rose hands Liam to Mom and then slides off the bed. Her movement is choppy and slow, and if she thinks I missed that little grimace just now, she’s mistaken.
Rose rolls her shirt up to reveal a large white bandage wrapped around her midline.
Before I can speak, she quickly says, "I'm okay," but I detect a hidden meaning in her words andnotice the sadness on Mom's face before she averts her gaze.
“No, you’re not,” I say, and when Rose’s expression falls, I know I’m right. “What else happened?”
